-They went right to the arena (surprised there’s no 9/11 tribute video, narrated by Vince, to open things) with Jim Ross welcoming us to the show, then right to the Undertaker’s music and the Dead Man’s entrance. JR mentioned Taker’s Hell’s Gate submission move. Undertaker got the mic and waited for the ovation to die down a bit. He said while time has slowed down, he will reclaim the World Heavyweight Title on Sunday. He said he’s sure that, by now, C.M. Punk is growing tired and that Hell’s Gate will break him. He assured Punk that he will make him submit and will take his soul. I don’t think Punk signed on for that. And sure enough, that brought out the champion himself for a retort.

Punk took Taker to task for calling what he does, “a symphony of lies,” saying that could be applied to Taker as well. He even said Taker was worse than Jeff Hardy, because he has prayed on the fans’ chemically-induced minds for almost 20 years. He called Taker this generation’s “Alice in Wonderland.” Punk scoffed at the idea that the people truly believe in the Undertaker. He even said the people think he has a chance at taking Punk’s World Title at Breaking Point. Punk ran down Taker’s list of victims, from Hogan to Flair to Michaels. He said he won’t be so easily added to Taker’s collection of souls because he is stronger than those other men. Punk said he’s not after Taker’s soul, but all he wants is to make the Dead Man tap out. He was almost salivating at the thought of the fans’ reactions to Taker actually submitting. He described what the fans would do if Taker tapped out, going to their bottle and continuing to destroy their lives. Punk said they’d get a taste of Sunday tonight, when he locks Matt Hardy in the Anaconda Vice. He said he’ll be the choice of a new generation, then repeated the line about being the only straight-edge champion in history. He said they’d be forced to join him and “just say no.”

Taker replied by saying the fans won’t be saying, “just say no”; they’ll be saying “rest in peace.” Good ending line, but the feud here is just so flimsy. I’m not doubting it’s going to be a great match, but there won’t be the drama with such a weak back-story.

-Finlay takes on Mike Knox in a Belfast Brawl, and it’s next!

[Commercial Break]

1- FINLAY vs. MIKE KNOX- BELFAST BRAWL

Knox did another inset interview. This week: A lizard sheds its tail when escaping a foe. But Knox doesn’t want the tail; he wants it all. JR called the rules “an Irish version of a street-fight.” Finlay got the advantage to start, but walked into a powerslam from Knox. Knox dropped three elbows onto the sternum of Finlay, then wanted to go under the ring for a weapon. Finlay stopped him with a baseball slide, but then went head-first into the announce table. Knox got a chair, but he couldn’t use it before Finlay got it away from him. Back in the ring, Knox kicked the chair right into Finlay’s face. About 1:30 into the match, they went to break with Knox having the upper hand.

[Commercial Break]

Knox, still in control upon return, dropped Finlay in a sidewalk slam across a steel chair. Finlay was thrown to ringside and Knox got a garbage can, actually three, and tossed them each one at a time at Finlay. Bicycle kick sent Finlay onto the other side of the barricade. But as Knox went to get Finlay, Finlay sent him back over. Then Finlay was caught by Knox and was slammed into the barricade himself. Trash can lid to the gourd of Finlay. More work with the trash can from Knox. Knox went under the ring again and this time retrieved a table, which received a huge pop and a “we want tables” chant. Knox went off the ropes and appeared to want to hit a cross-body, but Finlay bopped him with the shillaleigh. In any event, Knox still landed on Finlay. After Finlay recovered, he pinned Knox.

WINNER: Finlay, at 9:39. Every time it looks like they’re going to push Knox, they seem to just stop short. This would’ve been a good win for him to climb the ladder. Finlay didn’t really need this.

-Dolph was about to knock on the Divas locker room door when Michelle interrupted and asked if he was looking for Maria. Michelle knocked on the door for him and Layla come out. She said Maria wasn’t in there. Michelle asked him why he was dating Maria when he could be dating someone sexy like her. She appeared to lose her balance on her crutches, and fell into Dolph’s arms, grabbing his ass on the way down. Ziggler seemed to feel awkward about that, as Layla looked on. He told Michelle to tell Maria he’s looking for her. After he walked away, Layal came up to Michelle to show her she got that all on video on her phone.

-Matt Hardy takes on C.M. Punk in a Submissions Match, still to come tonight.

-David Hart Smith and The Great Khali made their entrances for their one-on-one match-up. But before the bell could ring, Kane came out and attacked Khali. The Hart Dynasty wisely left dodge. Kane got a Singapore cane from under the ring, but Khali met him with a chop to the head back in the ring, then a Punjabi Plunge.

-Chris Jericho and Big Show were walking backstage. They’re up next.

[Commercial Break]

2- CHRIS JERICHO & THE BIG SHOW vs. CRYME TYME

JTG and Jericho started out the match as the legal men. Jericho looked ready for Sunday, very aggressive to begin things. Too aggressive though, as he missed a corner charge and was inside cradled for two. Dropkick by JTG, then he clotheslined Jericho over the top and to ringside. Jericho began to lose his cool, ripping the cover off the announce desk in anger. They went to break again shy of 2:00.

[Commercial Break]

The standard “back from break” ensued, then JTG took over until he took his eye off Jericho, only to get socked in the face. That allowed Jericho to make the tag to Big Show. Show went for a back-drop, but JTG just jumped over him and tagged in Shad Gaspard. Shad went after Show, then knocked Jericho off the apron. He went off the top, but Show chopped him out of mid-air. Once the heels were back in control, Jericho came in and did some more of the dirty work. But Shad got a big boot and the fans were behind him to make the hot tag. Was he really worn down that much already that he had to try to crawl to his corner, and not even make it there? Anyway, Show made the tag instead and sat in a reverse chin-lock with Shad. Another quick tag in to Jericho, who tried to fight off Shad, but Gaspard landed a powerslam. JTG tagged in and quickened the pace. Show was taken out of the equation via a low bridge, then Shad knocked him down on the outside. JTG tried a corner move, but Jericho rolled him up, using the ropes for leverage for two. Walls of Jericho attempt, but JTG rolled him up for two. JTG skinned the cat back in the ring, but as he was on the upswing, Show walked by and hammered him with a right hand.

WINNERS: Jericho and Show, at 12:02. Good showing from CT here in the loss.

-Teddy Long was backstage, working his phone, when Vince McMahon walked in. McMahon continued to insist Smackdown was simply “good.” McMahon said he built his empire on “great,” and that’s not what he sees out there. He wanted to know what Long would do about it. He said that next week, he has a huge surprise that will change the face of Smackdown. Vince seemed intrigued. He then asked what Long would do for him at Breaking Point. Long assured him he’d have something good for him. McMahon reminded him he doesn’t like “good.” Then Long promised he’d have something “excellent” for Vince at Breaking Point. Vince noticed that his picture wasn’t on the wall- Teddy acted like someone had stolen it and he said he was asking around trying to find it.

-Punk vs. Hardy in a submission match is the main event tonight.

[Commercial Break]

3- CHARLIE HAAS vs. JOHN MORRISON

Haas got no entrance. Morrison got Haas in a back-breaker, then a Russian leg-sweep. Haas came back to work the arm of Morrison. Some unique moves to do so, as well. He laid across Morrison’s back, stretching his arm the way it isn’t supposed to be stretched. He then went to the more widely-known move, the arm-bar (Jericho move #742). Dropsault from Morrison led his comeback against Haas. Standing Shooting-Star Press got two. Morrison was then sent shoulder-first into the ring-post, then a DDT with the arm barred for two. Haas tried a high-risk move, but Morrison kicked him off the top rope, which allowed Morrison to land Starship Pain.

WINNER: Morrison, at 3:22. Just an enhancement match for Morrison, and a chance for the announcers to talk about the great match he had last week with Rey Mysterio.

Morrison got the mic after the match and called last week’s match one of the greatest of his career. He said it wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for Rey Mysterio. He said he wanted to talk about how he felt after the match, but that wouldn’t do it justice, so he showed a video of him getting his hand raised last week and his reaction upon winning. Morrison thanked Rey, from the bottom of his heart. He said Rey is a great competitor and an even greater champion, and he’ll grant Rey a re-match any day. Then Dolph Ziggler’s music interrupted. Ziggler said that sickens him, as he earned his title match, but Morrison and his buddy Rey decide to have a match and now Morrison is the IC champ and not him. Morrison asked what Dolph was going to do, lose to Rey a third time? Dolph said the third time is the charm. He said he earned his title match and he wants his title match. Morrison agreed that he deserves the title match, and suggested they have one now. Ziggler balked at that idea, instead saying they’ll have the match on his terms. Morrison asked Ziggler if he was scared, then made jokes about his name, none that were particularly funny. Oh God, then they got the crowd to chant “Mr. Ziggles.” Tremendously thought-provoking, that. Ziggler told the fans to stop or he’ll leave the stage. They cheered. That was funny. Mr. Ziggles is this week’s “Christina,” I guess. Wow, they are really pushing this stupid name hard.

-Matt Hardy joined Josh Mathews backstage. He asked Matt about having a submission match tonight. Matt said last week, things didn’t end as he wanted it to. Hardy said there will be two submissions of Punk: Hardy tonight, and Taker on Sunday. He said Punk will be begging for mercy. He said Punk would be lucky to make it to Breaking Point, because once he locks in a submission, he ain’t letting go.

[Commercial Break]

4- MELINA vs. LAYLA

Shoulderblcok by Layla, then a face-plant that looked like it was going to be a back-drop. Melina tried to do the ten-punches in the corner, but Layla pushed her off and to the mat. McCool was at ringside with Layla, for what its worth. Layla with a modified surfboard, then Layla got a cover for two. Small package for two by Melina. Melina with some rights, then a corner attack. Double-knees to the gut in the corner by Melina, then another face-plant. That was for two. Melina with a drop-toe hold on Layla into the middle rope, but Layla moved on a Melina dive, sending Melina to ringside. McCool hit Melina with one of her crutches and Layla pinned her.

WINNER: Layla, at 3:03.

-To the back and Josh Mathews, who welcomed R-Truth. Truth spouted off about Drew McIntyre. He said unlike what Drew says, the party has just started. Truth wanted a match with McIntyre and said he’d be all over McIntyre like a monkey on a cupcake. Uh....what? Anyway, McIntyre attacked, as you’d expect, and threw Truth into some inanimate objects that surrounded the interview area. Referees quickly broke it up.

Match began after Hardy made his entrance. The two men fought for control and Hardy appeared to get it, taking Punk off his feet with a right hand. Neck-breaker followed that up. And another. One more, for good measure. Hardy locked in a double underhook, then wrapped his legs around Punk’s waist in the first submission attempt of the match. Punk walked over to the corner and rammed Hardy into the turnbuckle. Kick to the stomach by Punk, then he went to springboard off the top, but Hardy knocked his feet out from under him. Hardy began to then work on the left leg of Punk. Hardy attempted a Twist of Fate, but Punk instead threw Hardy shoulder-first into the ring post, then again. They went to break 3:30 into the main event.

[Commercial Break]

Punk continued his abuse of Punk, putting his knee in the back of Hardy’s neck, the driving him to the mat from the middle rope. Some guys were actually chanting for Punk. Punk pummeled the back of Hardy’s head with right hands. Suplex by Punk, followed up by two legdrops. Head-scissors by Punk was next to wear down Matt. Hardy attempted a comeback, but was put down with an enziguiri. Punk hobbled over to give Hardy a high knee, but then was brought out of the corner with a knee-buster. Hardy then applied a figure-four, much to the delight of the crowd. Punk looked like he was coming close to tapping out, but instead, he turned over the move. He grabbed the rope, which caused a break. Clothesline in the corner by Hardy, then a bulldog out of it. Side Effect found the mark. No Twist of Fate though- Hardy blocked a GTS and Matt cinched in a half-crab. He really torqued the left leg. Punk got the rope and Hardy seemed to be in no hurry to break. Punk came back with a roundhouse kick. He then locked in the Anaconda Vice for the tap-out victory.

WINNER: Punk, at 13:41. About what you’d expect from these two. Couldn’t go all-out because of the stipulation and the match this Sunday.

Taker’s bell tolled after the match. The lights went out and when they came on, the belt that Punk was holding was no longer in his hands. On the ramp, Taker had said belt and was raising it over his head as Punk’s ire was being raised in the ring.

Greg Parks has been covering Smackdown for PWTorch.com since January of 2007. You can also read his frequently updated blog in the VIP forum. Check out his column each week in the PDF-exclusive version of the Torch Newsletter. Comments, questions and feedback are welcome, and can be sent to g_man9784@yahoo.com.

He hosted the weekly Pro Wrestling Focus radio show on KFAN in the early 1990s and hosted the Ultimate Insiders DVD series distributed in retail stories internationally in the mid-2000s including interviews filmed in Los Angeles with Vince Russo & Ed Ferrara and Matt & Jeff Hardy. He currently hosts the most listened to pro wrestling audio show in the world, (the PWTorch Livecast, top ranked in iTunes)

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